The goal

Of course, I am talking about my NCAA men's basketball tournament bracket. The Big Ten let me down (again). I just didn't see Virginia Commonwealth University and Butler coming!

Teams play in the NCAA tournament for the purpose of aspiring to greatness. That goal is realized by a final four visit (a national title doesn't hurt). Sixty other teams including all the No. 1 and 2 seeds did not quite achieve the prize.

What about the goal of Christianity, the purpose and objective behind it?

I have heard more than a few friends ask me over the years in one way or another, "I just don't get it. What is the point of becoming a Christian?"

Questions like these are not bad. In fact, I believe these sorts of questions and ones like them should be encouraged. The answer is one that all people should consider -- whether you sit in a pew (or in a theater seat) every Sunday morning or would say that you are far from God.

Last week in this column, we took a glance at John 10:10 (The Message) where Jesus says, "I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of." This passage and many others teach that there is hope despite difficult circumstances. Jesus has come into this world to offer us eternal life and to bring fulfillment into our present lives. We have a chance because of Jesus.

So then the point of Christianity must be Jesus showing us how to find fulfillment and giving us eternal life, right? That would make the goal of Christ following centered around our individual happiness.

Honestly though, is faith in Christ just another consumerist opportunity in the mall of life?

Jesus saves us, both in this life from ourselves and in the life to come, for a grander ambition. In Ephesians 4:13b, "Until we all ... become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ."

For the Christ follower, the lifelong goal is about an ongoing change of maturing and becoming more and more like Jesus Christ. The Lord saves us for the purpose of transforming us to be like Christ.

This is not a life on the path of least resistance. In Galatians 4:19, the apostle Paul writing to one of his churches describes the labor of becoming like Christ, "My dear children for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you."

Christians are destined to face challenges and struggles as they surrender and progress toward the goal of Christ-likeness. I believe those who find themselves on a path of faith with no obstacles, are quite possibly on a path that leads to nowhere.

Let me share with you three essentials for attaining the goal of Christ-likeness:

First of all, we have to put growing levels of faith in God. Hebrews 11:6 prompts us, "And without faith it is impossible to please God." When Jesus walked the earth, he put his trust in God the Father's redemptive plan despite the suffering and difficulty that he knew he would endure. We advance toward the goal of Christ-likeness as we entrust our burdens and ongoing challenges to God's trustworthy and faithful shoulders. He can carry our weights and we can trust him.

Essential number two is Christ change by "the renewing of your mind" (Romans 12:2). Why do we need to renew our minds? Think of all the "lures" in our world that pull us down unproductive paths that lead to empty living. The Bible contrasts what we find in our culture with a different way to live, the way of Christ. Regular study and meditation of God's word is vital to the change that Jesus wants to bring about in our lives. A friend of mine says, "Without the word of God, you can't know the will of God." Daily or weekly Bible reading plans can be found online.

The third essential is from Ephesians 4:22-24, which says, "Put off the old self which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires ... and put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness." This is bare bones about a choice, the mountain climb of behavioral change. "Putting off the old ways" and "putting on the new ways" only works in tandem with the previously mentioned essentials: walking by faith and renewing our minds regularly. Mountain climber Edmund Hillary once said, "It is not the mountain we conquer but ourselves."

As we become more and more like Christ, we do not solely have opportunities to speak the Good News, but of equal importance, we become the Good News to those around us. When you become like Christ, you are the Good News.

What about you? Are you achieving the prize of becoming like Christ? I invite you to take the next step in your faith journey. Only you know what that is.

What would happen in our communities if more and more of us began advancing toward the goal of Christ-likeness? Generosity and kindness would flow in a miraculous way and our communities would be changed forever and for the better.

Norm Byers is the lead pastor of Genesis Church, which meets 9:30 a.m. Sundays at the Petoskey Cinema and 11 a.m. Sundays at Boyne City elementary. For more information, visit www.genesiswired.com.